📖 The Shadow of What Was Lost (Book 1)

Tropes: chosen one prophecy • magic academy vibes • lost memory mystery • rebellion vs empire • hidden identity

In a world ruled by strict order and dangerous magic, Will is just a boy trying to survive his training—until buried truths about his past begin to surface. When a mysterious girl appears and powerful forces start hunting them, Will is pulled into a war tied to a forgotten history no one is supposed to remember.

Magic here comes with rules… and breaking them might unravel everything.

A gripping start filled with ancient secrets, moral conflict, and a system of magic that will keep you thinking long after the last page.

📖 An Echo of Things to Come (Book 2)

Tropes: time manipulation • political fantasy • war of factions • “destiny vs free will” • dark secrets revealed

The war is no longer coming—it’s already here. As tensions rise and alliances fracture, Will and his allies are forced to confront truths about the Augurs, the Gifted, and the world itself that change everything they thought they knew.

With time itself bending in unexpected ways, every decision carries weight, and every victory comes with a cost.

This installment deepens the mystery, expands the world, and pushes every character closer to a fate they may not be able to escape.

About the Author — James Islington

Tropes he’s known for: intricate magic systems • time-bending plots • morally complex characters • epic worldbuilding • slow-burn reveals

James Islington is an Australian fantasy author best known for The Licanius Trilogy, a series praised for its tightly woven plot, clever twists, and deeply layered worldbuilding. His writing blends classic epic fantasy with time-loop and fate-driven storytelling that rewards careful readers.

He is especially known for crafting stories where every answer leads to more questions—and where nothing is ever quite what it seems.